Distributor points setting device



April 17, 1962 s. KUSMER ETAL 3,029,519

DISTRIBUTOR POINTS SETTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1957 INVENTORS SEYMOUR KUSMER- & HAROLD N. ROSEN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,029,519 DISTRIBUTDR POINTS SETTING DEVICE Seymour Kusmer, 1619 E. Swan, Brentwood, Mo., and Harold N. Rosen, 8932 Eroquois, Olivette, Mo. Filed Nov. 25, 1957, $81. No. 698,687 2 Claims. (Cl. 33168) This invention relates in general to automotive ignition systems and, particularly, to devices for setting the clearance of the distributor contact points.

:It is an object of the present invention to provide devices for facilitating the rapid and efiective setting of the clearance between contact points of automotive distributors, which devices are each adapted to maintain a feeler gage in position during the setting operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for the setting of distributor point clearance which is adapted to retain the contact points in proper working relationship during setting to assure positive adjustment in a single operation and thereby obviate the time-consuming and, hence, costly setting procedures commonly practiced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for the setting of distributor point clearance which may be most economically manufactured; which is reliable ad durable in usage; and which may be readily and easily |used by any automotive mechanic.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a distributor point clearance setting device which may be detachably engaged upon replacement points, thereby forming an initial component thereof, the use of which provides proper positioning of the requisite feeler gage during the necessary and heretofore laborious setting of new or replacement points.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a clearance setting member for replacement contact points which may be most economically manufactured and which is consistently reliable in usage.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial top plan view of a distributor points clearance setting tool constucted in accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating the tool as presented to a pair of automotive distributor contact points.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view illustrating the tool of the present invention in operative position.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the tool of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the tool.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of replacement contact points having engaged on the stationary one a clearance setting member constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the clearance setting device illustrated in FIGURE 5.

' Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a tool comprising a pair of members 1, 1 pivotally connected to each other, as at 2, and having handle portions 3, 3, respectively, whereby the members may be swung about pivot 2. Members 1, 1' incorporate opposed extensions 4, 4', respectively, which are so recessed and contoured on their confronting side portions as to define an enclosed space 5, and which in their outer end portions, remote from pivot point 2, are curved inwardly toward each other, as at 6, and thence directed endwise of tool A to provide spaced apart, relatively elongated jaws 7, 7', respectively. Said jaws 7, 7 are shaped so that their opposed surfaces are in substantial parallel relationship when the distance therebetween is in the order of 7 to of an inch. Thus, when handles 3, 3' are in tool-closing condition, jaws 7, 7 will be in spaced apart, parallel relation, with inch being the preferred distance.

Projecting through one of the extensions, such as 4', and into enclosure 5 is a screw, rivet, or the like 8, axially normal to the longitudinal axis of tool A, and upon its inwardly projecting portion are swingably mounted, for movement within planes perpendicular to the plane of tool A, a plurality of feeler gages 9, each being of a predetermined thickness representative of the distributor points clearance of well known automotive makes, and may, for example, fall Within the range of to of an inch. A spacer 10 is disposed upon screw 8 to locate 'feeler gages 9 thereon in alignment with the spacing between jaws 7, 7 for purposes presently appearing. To prevent accidental displacement of feeler gages 9 from screw 8 a nut or other retaining means 11 may be secured upon the inner end thereof.

Tool A is utilized for the purpose of setting the clearance or gap between contact points of the distributor of the ignition systems of automotive vehicles, and the like, which points may either be the originally provided ones or replacements. For illustration purposes only, and not forming a part of the, present invention, the following.

conventional elements of an automotive distributor are now described for facilitating an understanding of the use of tool A: 12 represents a stationary contact point and 13 designates a cooperating contact carried upon the usual, swingably mounted breaker arm 14, said latter being urged by the customary spring 15 so as to present associated contact point 1-3 into closed, surface abutting relationship with contact point 1-2. Provided on breaker arm 14 is a block 16 for engagement with a conventional cam 17, mounted on the distributor shaft (not shown), whereby the said points 1-2, '13 will be opened at the appropriate juncture. The usual adjustment lock screw 18 and gap adjustment screw 19 are provided for permitting adjustment of stationary contact point 12 so that the proper clearance will be established between same and contact point 13 when the latter are opened.

It is believed that the importance of the proper setting of'the clearance or gap between points 12, 13 is well known, but, succinctly, it may be stated that if points 12,

13 are adjusted too closely the engine will not run evenly, if at all, as the points will not open long enough to give the related ignition coil a chance to properly operate. If contact points 12, 13 are adjusted with too much clearance, the engine will miss at high speeds, as the points will not be closed long enough to allow the ignition coil to build up to the necessaryextent, resulting in a weak spark at the plugs.

To set the requisite clearance, the user of tool A will select the appropriate feeler gage 9 and swing same into the space between jaws 7, 7' (FIGURE 1); the length of the various gages 9 being such that each will extend beyond the end of tool A when in operative position. The remaining feeler gages 9 are retained in non-interfering, inoperative position, that is to say, being directed in the opposite direction toward pivot 2. Cam 17 is rotated for opening contactpoints 12, 13 and is maintained in such state during clearance setting. Handles 3, 3' are manipulated to move jaws 7, 7 away from each other for facile presentation of each outwardly of contact points '13, 12, respectively, and with the selected, feeler gage 9 disposed between said points. Thereon handles 3, 3 arebrought toward each other with coincident moving of jaws 7, 7"

Patented Apr. 17, 1962 intervening gap will precisely correspond with selected gage thickness. With contact points 12, 13 firmly maintained by jaws 7, 7 the user will loosen lock screw 18 to free stationary contact 12 for relative movement of its support plate, indicated at 20, and then rotate gap screw 19 until block 16 is brought into engagement with the proximate lobe of cam 17 (FIGURE 2), upon which engagement lock screw 13 is then tightened thereby securing contact points 12, 13 in the predetermined, desired relationship. After such tightening of screw 18, tool A is removed.

As shown above jaws 7, 7' present the indicated gage 9 in position and serve to firmly and reliably retain points 12, 13 in their required relationship during adjustment. laws 7, 7 do not effect clearance setting by deforming, as by bending, of points 12, 13. Any deformation of contacts 12, 13 would invariably conduce to subsequent improper operation and, hence, the same must be protected against any such untoward action during setting operation. It will be observed that gap setting of contact points presents a problem which cannot be solved by techniques utilized in adjusting spark plug gaps since in the latter bending an electrode toward or away from the other is the general practice. Therefore, the parallelism of contacts 12, 13 must be at all times maintained, and with tool A such is achieved by the critical construction of jaws 7, 7' wherein the same will be substantially parallel when the intervening space is between A and 7 of an inch. This range encompasses the distance between the outer faces of closed points in distributors of the most popular ve hicle makes. In view of the above, it is noted that tool A will accomplish the desired disposition of points so that in addition to promoting the proper clearance setting, deformation of the points will be prevented. Furthermore, tool A is especially designed to incorporate a plurality of feeler gages of varying thickness so that said tool can be effectively utilized with a variety of distributors; since the clearance between points will vary with the make of the vehicle. It has been found that five of such gages having thicknesses within the range of to of an inch will be adequate to render tool A usable with the majority of distributors encountered in normal experience. However, if desired, it is quite apparent that a lesser or greater number of feeler gages may be incorporated into tool A than the five shown without in any way departing from the nature and spirit of the present invention.

Of marked noteworthiness is the fact that tool A by its unique means for maintaining a feeler gage in appropriate position during the adjustment of stationary contact 12 with respect to contact 13 will assure that the clearance setting operation may be effected in a single step and thereby obviate the time consuming and laborious procedures heretofore practiced wherein a series of settings had to be effected and checked until the appropriate one had been reached; such being occasioned by the lack of means for maintaining the contact points in proper engagement with the gage during adjustment.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, B designates a contact clearance setting device which integrally incorporates a flat, single gage portion 21 and a retaining clip 22, being formed from a single, preferably metallic blank of material of predetermined thickness. The retaining clip 22 thus is formed integrally with the gage portion 21 and extends upwardly and then downwardly from the upper part of said gage portion 21 with the lower end portion of said clip 22 being spaced from the inner or confronting face of gage portion 21 and terminating spacedly above the lower or free end thereof, and with its said lower end being bent inwardly toward the arm portion so that the intervening distance therebetween will be normally less than the thickness of the contact point to be engaged. So, when device B is mounted upon a contact point the said device B will grippingly embrace said contact point so as to be reliable in such position. Said device is adapted to be engaged upon a stationary contact point indicated at 12 which is in all respects substantially identical to contact point 12 hereinabove described, which contact point 12 forms a part of a replacement contact point unit indicated generally at C. Thus, device B will form a component of replacement points so that the user will receive the unit C with the device B engaged upon contact 12' whereby feeler gage portion 21 will be presented in abutting relationship on its inner face against the operative surface of said contact point 12. Therefore, device B serves to present the appropriate clearance gage in position whereby the user in installing the unit C may readily install same on the distributor in proper adjusted position. After the indicated adjusting operation, device B may be readily removed by upward pulling action and discarded.

In view of the above, it will be seen that device B serves to assure prompt and accurate setting of the clearance between the contact points of unit C by maintaining the requisite gage in firm relationship upon the stationary contact, and is so economically manufactured that it may be discarded after adjustment. The use of device B thus obviates the lengthy, trial and error procedures heretofore performed in setting so called new or replacement contact points.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the distributor points setting device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

We claim:

1. A device formed from a single blank of material for setting distributor contact points clearance comprising a fiat, elongated arm portion defining a feeler gage, said arm portion having a predetermined thickness in correspondence to the indicated clearance, and an arcuate clip portion integral with said arm portion and extending up wardly and thence downwardly from the normally upper end of said arm portion, said arcuate clip portion being free at its normally lower end and at such lower end being in opposed relationship to said fiat arm portion for cooperation therewith to grippingly engage a contact point to present the feeler gage in snug abutment against the face of the said contact point.

2. A device as described in claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said arcuate clip portion is turned inwardly toward, but spaced from, the inner or confronting face of the flat arm portion and terminates spacedly above the lower or free end of said flat arm portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,254 'McKeown Mar. 15, 1921 1,629,000 Rumely May 17, 1927 2,151,617 Richards Mar. 21, 1939 2,453,774 Basista Nov. 16, 1948 2,619,555 Westfall Nov. 25, 1952 2,645,142 Schwenzfeier July 14, 1953 2,670,643 Clarke Mar. 2, 1954 2,726,453 Barrett Dec. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,164 Sweden May 11, 1921 152,423 Austria Feb. 10, 1938 

